Machine for sealing circulars



May 15, 1923. 3,454,889

A. H. GUSTAFSON' MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS Filed Jan. 2e, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1923. 1,454,889

A. H. GUsTAr-soN MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS Filed Jan. 2e, 1918 4 sheets-sheet 2 lituanien' @rhzzr H. 'asafsan May 15, 1923.

A. H. GUSTAFSON MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS ems-sheet 30 Filed Jan. -26 1918 lawaai@ haar 115 .son

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May l5, 1923.

3,454,889 l A. H. GUSTAFSQN MACHINE FOR SEALING CIRCULARS 'Filed Jan. 26 1918 4 sheets-sheet. 4

Patented ay 15, A1923.

ARTHUR H. GUSTAFSON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO-R T0 HENRY HOLBROOK', 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.,

MACHINE FOR SEALINGr CIRCLARS.

Application filed January 26, 1918. Serial No. 213,967. A

Z0 all whom t my concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. GUSTAF'- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Sealing Circulars, of which.

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for applying sealing wafers to various kinds of circulars or other publications. I n the embodiment of the invention herein shown, mechanism is adapted to apply a gummed wafer across the contiguous yedges of a folder to hold the latter in folded position for mailing or the like.

It is an object of the invention to produce a machine of the character described which will be simple and economical in construct-ion and eflicient in operation.

ln the drawings A Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe machine constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line fir-4c of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hopper for the wafers; .f

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the stripping needle; i

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the wafer belt and its supporting mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the folder about to be supplied with a wafer';

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are side elevations showing the steps inthe operation of applying the wafer to the folder; i

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a folder equipped with a wafer according to my invention.

Fig.' 1 3 is a modicationshowing mechanism 'for sealing a folder having the edges folded upon one of the faces of the folder.

Folders to be sealed are contained in an adjustable hopper 1, the details of which Lwill be hereinafter morev fully described, yand are successively drawn from the open bottom of this hopper by a pair of endless belts 2 equipped with lugs 3' adapted-to push a single folderout of the hopper and carry it forward with 'the'belts The endless belts 2 are spacedr apart, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2,v V'and' between them, adjacent the delivery end of the machine described herein is provided the mechanism in` the standard 17.

for applying the sealing wafers.

This mechanism comprises a Wafer hopper 5,` shown in perspective in F ig. 5, havying one end partly closed as indicated at 6. Wafers 7 are stacked -in the wafer hopper 5 so that a portion of the under side of the bottom. one is exposed through the opening above the closure 6. The wafer hopper 5 isarranged-upon a steep incline, as shown iri Fig. 4, in `such a fashion that the bottoms of the wafers will suce ively be ushed into contact, by thew'eight of the wafers above (assisted by a weight, if desired), with a feeding member as' an endless belt 8 running on rolls 9 and 10. Adjacent the roll 9 is the roll 11, which presses the wafer into full contact with the belt, while the belt is kept moist by the wick 12 in the tank 13. f

The lower roll 10V is of small size, as

' clearly seen in Fig. 4, and adjacent thereto and just at the point where the belt 8 makes a short turn about the roll, is the end 14 of the adjustably mounted stripping needle 15. Whose end runs in a groove 15 in the belt 8. This needle serves to strip the wafer ofi the belt, as may be clearly seen in Fig.

7, the wafer then passing downwardly until it rests substantially vertically in a slot 16 The slot 16 is flared onits delivery side, as indicated at 18, and the pressure rolls 19 and 20 are provided, the lower one of which continues the curve of the ared portion 18 of the slot 16. The operation of the mechanism canv be clearly gathered from Figs. 7 to 12.

-I will now describe in detail the'struc-v tural elements of the illustrated machine,

including the construction of the hopper for the folders and the parts for mounting the various operating mechanismsn above del scribe-d. lThe'folder hopper 1, see Fig.,2, comprises a pair of upright members 20a adjustabl'y mounted upon the frame members 55 respectively of the machine asv by means of the thumb nuts 22. To .the uprights 20a are securedthe end'plates 24 provided with lugs 25. to which are pivoted on opposite sides of the machine the arms 26, these arms at their opposite ends being pivotally mounted on upper and lower bolts 27 carried in long sleeves 28. Pivotedito Y the bolts 27 vadjacent the arms 26 .are the .arms 30, Figs. 1, 2, each of which is, at its other end, pivoted to the side plates 3l by` means of the long bolts 32 carried in lugs 33 on vthe side plates. rl`he bolts 27 are screw threaded at their adjacent ends and engaged bythe collars 34 provided with handles 35 by which the bolts 28 canv bel i rolls 40 at the rear of the machine and on rolls 41 at the front of the machine. -`The rolls 40 are mounted on the bearings in the frame work of the machine and are adjustable onl the sha-ft by means of the adjusting bolts 43. The rolls 4l at the delivery end ofthe machine are aligned with the rolls 40, are carried on a shaft 45 and similarly adjustable thereon by the bo ts 46. By this means, the belts may be made to travel under, the hopper atthe correct and desired distance apart. The rolls'40 are driven by the sprocket y fast on the shaft 42 and opera-ted by the chain 51 from a suitable motor 52 carried on the frame- .5 work of the machine.

The framework of the machine, Fig. l, comprises the four -legs 53 having a platform 54 to carry the motor and side bars 55. j Secured to the two side bars 55, are the brackets 60 whose up er portions extend inwardly and terminate in the side v plates 61. ln the side plates 61'are the bearings for the shafts of the rolls 9, 10, 11, 19, and 20 hereinabove described. The shafts of the rolls 20 and 10 extend through bearings in the plate 61 -at one side and through one `end of one bracket 60f (see Fig.k3) and are equipped with pulleys 65 and 66, over which is trained the belt 67. By this construction, it will be apparent thatwhen the roll 20 is revolved, theroll 10 will alsobe revolved and therefore the belt 8 caused to travel as well as the roll 11 in contact therewith.

The wafer holding standard 17, Fig. 4, is mounted upon a cross bar 70, Fig. 3, extending across the side frames of the machine', while lthe stripper 14, Fig.'4, is adjustablymountedupon 4the shaft 75 which is'secured to the plate 61, by being4 passed j through an aperture therein and the stripper is secured tol the by the thumbscrew 76 shaft.75. f

Y In operation, it will be apparentqthat, n power being communicated to the shaft 4.2

as described, to the endless .belts2, will shaft 42 having travel, taking folders from the hopper and passing them through the sealing mechanism. Each time a folder goes between the rolls 19 and 20, it will revolve, in t-urn, the

roll 20, which will revolve the roll 10 by means of the belt pulley 67 (see Figs. 1, 2) which will cause the belt 8 to travel a predetermined' distance, thus bringing' a new wafer down over the stripper needle 14 and into the slot 16. rlhe next folder as it passes between the rolls -19 and 20, will strike the wafer thus'held in vertical position about midway on its gummed side and push this wafer through the rolls 19 and 20, folding the edges of the wafer down on the opposite faces of the -folder and sealing the same.

In Fig. 13 is shown a modified form.- of

stripper needle 70 having a shorter flat folder engaging section 71, an upwardly extendedsimilar portion 72 which may be curved slightly more in 'a forward direction and a stripping end 73. With this form of needle no standard 17 is used. This form is used where the wafer is to be applied to the flat surface of the folder,` as when the folder is folded as 'shown in Fig. 13. In such case the folder, as itis carried forward,

strikes theA flat. section 71,'y forcing the upwardly extended or needle portion 72 for-- ward andthe wafer 7 lagailst the roll 19, 4which draws the wafer off the-needle and .puts it on the folder, the roll being driven by the forward edge of the folder which has already, passed between rolls 19 and 20. The continued rotation of the roll 19 will bring anew wafer down on the portion 72 of the needle through the connections between the various rolls above explained. By locating the section 71 in different positions, the wafer may be applied in a wide variety of locations on the folder to suit'various kinds Y- of folds.

Itf will beobvious that it is .immaterial what the shape of the wafers may be. It will also be readily recognized that by the word wafer I do not refer merely to wafers composed entirely of adhesive material, but l include in the -term wafers of paper, cloth or thel like, gummed upon at -least one side, and they may be of any preferred form such as Red Crs, yChristmas or other stamps, or labels of faniful outline.

Having described one embodiment ofmy invention which obviously is not limited to the construction disclosed, in alldetails, I claim p 7 .1. In apparatus of the class described,

lmeans including endless carriers for feed-l.

. may be impinged by the edge of the folder,

and oppositely acting members for folding the wafer across the edge of the folder as the latter continues its movement after impinging the wafer.

3. ln apparatusof the class described conveyors for feeding a folder or the like edgewise uniformly forward in the machine, a moistened member for engaging a wafer and feeding it forward toward the folder, a pocket for loosely positioning the `wafer across the path of travel of the folder and in a plane substantially at right angles thereto, whereby the wafer will be impinged and picked up by the folder moving uniformly forward, and pressing members for thereafter pressing the wafer upon both sides of the folder.

4. In apparatus of the class descrlbed, in combination, a wafer magazine, a moistened carrying member for picking a waferfrom the magazine and for carrying it to a folder, a wafer stripping needle for stripping the Wafer from the carrying means, and means acting to fold the wafer across the edge of a folder, and oppositely positioned means acting thereafter to press the halves of the wafer upon opposite faces of the folder.

5. ln' apparatus of the class described,

folder advancing members, a wafer hopper,

moistened means acting to pick the wafer from the hopperu and to transfer it from the hopper, a stripping member for stripping the wafer from the transferring means and positioning one face of the Wafer to the folder, and pressing members for securing the wafer upon the'folder.

6. in apparatus of the class described,

means for' moving folders or the like through the machine, a hopper for wafers to be attached to the folders, a moist carrier adapted to successively take lwafers from the hopper, and pressingmeans adaptedV to cooperate with the travelling folder for ap-v plying the wafers thereto.

7. in apparatus of the class described, a reservoir for folders or the'like, a belt for taking the folders successively from the reservoir, a hopper adapted to contain wafers, a second belt for taking the wafers from the lhopper successively, the belts being arranged in such relation that the wafers are carried by the second belt from `the hopper to the plane of the first belt. v

8. In vapparat-us of the class described, a belt for moving folders or the like through the mac ine, means for bringing wafers successively into and isolating the samev across .the path of the folders carried by the belt, 'sald last named means being operated from the belt.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a belt for moving folders or the like through the machine,-means for bringing wafers successively into the path of the folders carried by the belt, said means comprising a belt adapted to transfer wafers from a wafer Fhopper, and driving means for said belt frictionall operated from the first belt. 10. n apparatus of the class described, a belt for moving folders or the like through vthe machine, means for bringing wafers successively into the path of the folders carried by the belt, said means comprising abelt adapted to transfer wafers from a wafer hopper, and driving means for said belt frictionally operated by the folders carried by the first belt.

11. in apparatus of the class described, a pair of belts adapted to successively advance folders or the like through the machine, wafer supplying means between the belts and adapted to -supply wafers to the folders on the belts between the latter by isolating the wafer from the supplying means and i placing it in the path of the folder.

12. In apparatusof the class described, a pair of belts adapted to successively advance folders or the like through the machine, wafer supplying means between the belts and adapted to supply wafers to the folders on the belts between the latter, said 'wafer supplying means being. operated byA said belts.

13. ln `apparatus of the class described, a pair of belts adapted to successively advance folders or the like through the machine, wafer supplying means between the belts and adaptedto supplyI wafers/ to the folders on the belts between the latter, said wafer supplying means being operated frictionally .by folders carried by said belts, and

means operated also frictionally by thel folder for applying the wafer thereto.

le. ln apparatus of the class described, a

belt for advancingfolders'or the like suctersect the plane of the first belt, y'means for the folders, on thev first belt, whereby the wafers are bent over the edge of the folders as the latter pass through the machine.

16. In apparatus ofthe class described,a belt for advancing folders or the like successively through the machine, a second belt adapted to cause'wafers*successively to instripping the wafers from the second belt and placing them across the plane of travel c of the folders on the first belt, whereby the wafers are bent over the edge of the folders as the latter ass through the machine, and rollers for p essing the halves of the wafers upon the faces of the folder.

17. In apparatus of the class described, a belt for causing folders or the like to advance through the machine, a second belt for bringing wafers into the plane of the first belt, means for stripping the wafers from the first belt and placing them in correct cooperative iielation with the folders advanced by the first belt, and lrollers for pressing the wafers upon the folders.

18. ln apparatus o-f the class described, al

belt for causing folders or the like to advance through the machine, a second belt for bringing wafers to the plane of the first belt, means for stripping the wafers from the second belt and placing them in correct cooperative relation withA the folders advanced by the first belt, and rollers for pressing vthe wafers upon the folders, said rollers elt. l

19. ln apparatus of the class described, a. belt for causing folders or the like to ad- Vance through the machine, a second belt for bringing wafers into the plane of the first belt, means .for stripping the -wafers from the second belt and placing them in correct cooperative relation with the folders advanced by the first belt. and rollers for pressing thewafers upon the folders, said rollers being frictionally and intermittently driven during the folder on the first belt.

20. l'n apparatus of the'class described, a pair of belts for causing folders or the like to advance through the machine, said belts being spacedapart, Wafer supplying means, comprising means for transferring wafers lfrom a remote point to the plane of the belts, means for stripping said wafers from said transferring means, and means for causing said wafers to adhere firmly to the folders, said wafer supplying means being interposed between said belts.

21. In apparatus of the class described,-a

vpair of belts for causing folders or the like to advance through the machine, said belts .being spaced apart, wafer. supplyingpmeans,

comprising means for transferring wafers from a remote. point to the Apfane of the belts, means for stripping said wafers 'from 35 eing caused to operate by the folders on the passage therebetween' of a Maase@ said transferring \means, and means for causing said wafers to adhere firmly to the folders, said wafer supplying means being interposed between said belts, and operated frictionally by thel folders upon said belts.

22. fn apparatus of the class described, a pair of belts for causing folders or the like to advance through the machine, the belts being spaced apart, wafer supplying means, comprising means for transferring wafers from a remotev point to the plane of thebelts, means for stripping said wafers from said transferring means, and means for presenting the wafers to the folders, the Wafer supplying means being interposed between the belts and operated frictionally by the folders upon said belts.

23. In apparatus of the class described, means for moving folders or the like through the machine, a hopper for wafers, a moist member for picking the wafers' from the hopper and transferring them successively therefrom, means to str-ip the wafers from the transferring means, and means to receive the wafers as they are stripped and position them to be received by the folders.

24. Apparatus of the class described comprising a label transferring member, a label magazine presenting labels successively thereto, a folder or the like conveyor causing the folder to intersect the path of the label and feed the label between label applying members, and label applying members acting to cause the label transferring member to successively present labels for action by the applying members.

25. Apparatus of the class described comprising a label hopper, a' `moistened label transferring member adapted to pick alabel from `the hopper and present it in a position to be engaged by a folder, a folder con-A veyor travelling adjacent the label transl ferring member and adapted to present the folder across the plane of the moving label while the transferring member for the label and the folder conveyor are both in motion. 26. Apparat-us of the class described comprising a moistened label picking and transferring member, a folder conveyor acting to present the folder edgewise to the label, and a pocket toreceive the label from ythe transferring member pending its application to the folder. v

27. In apparatus' of the class described, a flexible conveyor for feeding folders or the like, a moistened stamp carrying member for selecting a stamp and carrying it toward the. folder, a pointed stripper member for strip` ping the /stamp from its carrying member` 'l and guiding it endwise to cause it to inter- Acept the. folder, and means for securing the stamp upon thefo'lder. 28. lint apparatus of the class described, a

for selecting and feeding the stamp, a thin edged stripper for stripping the stamp from its conveyor, a holder to retain the stamp in a and partly below the path of the sheet, and

means for securing the stamp to the sheet.

29. In Aapparatus of the class described, means `for feeding affolder or the like, a wafermagazine, rotatable means for carrying a wafer to the path of the folder, means for stripping a wafer from the carrying means,\a pocket for supporting the wafer in the ath of the folder, a moist selecting mem er for simultaneously selectin from the magazine and moistening the wa er, and wafer pressing and smoothing members for applying the wafer to the folder and smoothing the same upon the surface thereof.

30. In apparatus of the class described, a frame 55, a wafer supporting standard 17, a folder feedin member 2, a wafer. magazine 6, 'a wa er transferring member 8 travelling adjacent said magazine,means for moistening the wafer, the wafer stripping member 15 for moving the wafer from the transferring member, the wafer applying 25 rolls 19, 20, for appl ing and smoothing the wafer upon the surace of the folder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ecification.

AR HUR H. GUSTAFSON. 

